3 Piano Teaching Games That Will Have Your Students Scratching…And You Winning!

I haven’t bought a scratch and win for years… but the last time I did I won a free ticket 3 times in a row. By the 3rd time I cashed it in for a free ticket I was fully convinced that I was one more scratch away from being “Set for Life”; after all, when are you ever lucky enough to win something 3 times in a row? Nope.

If there’s one thing that piano students love it’s a surprise. When I came across instructions for how to make your own Scratch and Win on Pinterest I was super excited about the piano teaching game possibilities that came with this new-found knowledge.

Using the printables below, discover how to teach piano theory by turning them into your own scratch and win tickets (follow this blogger’s directions). Then it’s time for some piano theory fun!

Here are the Top 3 Piano Teaching Games Using a Scratch-and-Win

1. Interval Gamble – Roll a die 5 times with your piano students. For each number that lands face-up, write it in a line on a piece of paper. Once you have your 5 numbers, have them play both the major and the minor interval (or the augmented/diminished in the case of 4ths and 5ths) that relate to that number. If your piano kids play them correctly, they get to scratch the “Interval Gamble” ticket (printable here for y’all). Add up the 5 numbers in their line. If the number on their scratch and win matches the number they added they win!… The odds of them winning are about the same as a regular ol’ lottery ticket 😉

2. Million Dollar Word – Using your piano kids’ current piece, help them create 4 different words using the notes found in the treble clef of their piece (Bed, Bee, Face, Dad etc.) Write the words on slips of paper and toss them into a hat. They draw a slip and scratch a card. If the word they draw matches one of the 4 words on their scratch-and-win card they win a prize! (Yup, another printable here for you!)

3. Lotto 6/8 Time – First, clap and count all of the 6/8 measures of rhythm with your student on this page. Then have them randomly circle two of the squares. If their scratch card (yeehaw…another printable!) matches either of their circled squares, they win!

Kids love to win and they love the anticipation of “what could be” – make your prizes yummy or cool enough and your piano students will be begging for more piano theory! … Can you think of a better way for how to teach piano theory to kids? Who’s the winner now? YOU!

Another way you can “win” is by giving your piano kids a sense of ownership over their own learning. By composing with your piano students you are teaching them theory without them even knowing it! If you don’t know where to start when it comes to teaching composing… have we got the book for you!

6 Responses to 3 Piano Teaching Games That Will Have Your Students Scratching…And You Winning!

I for one, am very glad you did not win that lottery which would have made you set for life!So many piano teachers and their students are now enjoying the benefits of your hard work. Where would I be without Muttzart and Fearless…and all these incredible blog ideas!? Thanks again.

I personally do not agree with the loterry idea. Kids don’t need to be encouraged to gamble even if money is not involved. I like the game ideas but maybe we need to look at what we are calling it or how we reward them a little differently.

You don’t have to call it a “lottery”…it can just be a matching game. Personally, I LOVE the idea and have already purchased my silver metallic acrylic paint.

Andrea, would it be possible to get more rhythm printouts? 2/4, 3/4, 4/4? I have a student that won’t clap and count out loud but when I played your “Rollin’ Rhythms” game, he was more than happy to do so (and even amused his parent that he actually did it!) because there was a prize at stake. I know he will LOVE this game too. I would love it if you could provide more of the rhythm printouts…. Thank you!

Love these games! Love the way I can print these out & I just cover page with colored printer paper, cut out & staple together. Students don’t have to scratch(although I know they would love this…. I just don’t want to keep duplicating!) students can lift up colored paper to see if they won!! Ps, when you get more rhythms, time signatures, can you send them or post??? Thank you so very much! Ps again, my students are loving the 2 books I purchased, piano practice & the composing book! Great job! Keeps everything fresh & fun!